Farzad Saifi-Karan - Radio Zamaneh - July 16, 2020
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| Zahra Mohammadi, Civil Activist and Kurdish Language Teacher |
Amid the crisis of the coronavirus pandemic, economic hardship, poverty, unemployment, and political repression that has closed off the path to a peaceful life for people, the judicial system of the Islamic Republic of Iran is more active than ever, issuing and enforcing heavy prison and execution sentences against civil and political activists. It seeks to prevent any voices of freedom, protest, or potential dissatisfaction by creating fear and terror in society.
In one of the latest cases of heavy sentences against civil activists, Zahra (Zara) Mohammadi, a Kurdish language and literature teacher, civil activist, and a member of the non-governmental cultural-social organization Nozhin, was sentenced to the maximum punishment of 10 years in prison by Branch 1 of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court, chaired by Judge Saidi, on the charge of "forming a group and gathering with the aim of disrupting national security."
Kani Mohammadi, Zahra Mohammadi's sister, views this sentence as unjust, unexpected, and based on fabricated accusations and the internal struggles of security institutions.
In an interview with Zamaneh, she discusses the latest details of her sister’s case, stating that this sentence is the result of a power struggle between the IRGC's Intelligence Organization and the Ministry of Intelligence over her sister’s case.
Kani believes that her sister has become a victim of this internal conflict.
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| Kani Mohammadi, Zahra Mohammadi's sister |
According to Kani Mohammadi, two days before the 10-year prison sentence for Zahra, she received a text message from the judiciary informing her that the sentence had been issued and that she should go to court for its notification.
"My sister did not personally go to court and immediately discussed the matter with her lawyer. At the lawyer's discretion, Zahra did not go to court, and her lawyer insisted that she should not go. Therefore, Zahra’s lawyer, Mr. Abdollahi, went to the court and the sentence was communicated to him."
This sentence followed the initial trial regarding Zahra Mohammadi’s charges, which took place on February 16, 2020. According to Kani Mohammadi, 20 days have been allocated for appealing and protesting the 10-year prison sentence.
Kani Mohammadi tells Zamaneh that Zahra Mohammadi taught Kurdish for 10 years and apparently received one year of prison for each year she taught. According to Kani, they will not accept this sentence and will not remain silent:
"My sister did nothing wrong, and she has been given this sentence for something she didn’t do. We cannot remain silent in the face of such an unjust and oppressive sentence. The only activity my sister was involved in was teaching at the Nozhin organization, and her activity was solely teaching the Kurdish language, yet she was accused of forming a group against the security of the country. Our question is: other than Nozhin, my sister didn’t have any other activities. How can teaching the mother tongue pose any threat to national security? Meanwhile, the Nozhin organization was acquitted of any charges, and Zahra, as the head of Nozhin, was accused of this and this sentence was issued."
According to Kani Mohammadi, when Zahra Mohammadi was released on bail, the interrogator contacted her brother and warned him that Zahra would be under surveillance 24/7, and if she made any mistake, she would be immediately arrested, and her bail would be rendered invalid.
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| Zahra Mohammadi teaching Kurdish language in the village of "Gavere" - Photo: Noujeen Association |
Zahra Mohammadi was arrested on May 23, 2019, along with Idris and Ribwar Manbari, during a raid by plainclothes security forces at her father’s home. After one month in detention, Ribwar and Idris were acquitted and released, but Zahra Mohammadi remained in temporary detention for six months. During this time, she was pressured to make forced confessions and was secretly taken to court for the formal announcement of charges without notifying her lawyer or family.
Kani Mohammadi tells Zamaneh that, like Ribwar and Idris Manbari, Zahra was initially set to be released after one and a half months in detention by the IRGC Intelligence due to a lack of evidence. However, the Ministry of Intelligence intervened in the case and prevented her release:
"The Ministry of Intelligence had taken Zahra’s case from the IRGC, and as Zahra herself said, there was a contradiction and struggle between the IRGC and the Ministry of Intelligence regarding the case. Since the IRGC had no evidence and no reason to extend Zahra’s detention, she should have been released after one and a half months. But the Ministry of Intelligence took over the case and extended the detention, putting Zahra under various psychological pressures to force her into a confession. Another point is that Zahra was initially accused of collaborating with opposition parties, and they pressured her to confess. Fortunately, Zahra resisted and did not accept such accusations."
It seems that after the security forces failed to extract a forced confession or gather evidence for the charge of collaborating with opposition parties, they attempted to convict Zahra Mohammadi with a vague, unsubstantiated accusation of "forming a group and gathering to disrupt national security."
Kani Mohammadi completely rejects this accusation, emphasizing that Zahra Mohammadi, aside from her work within the framework of the Nozhin organization, did not collaborate or engage in any other civil society activities.
Zahra Mohammadi, 29 years old and from Sanandaj, is a Kurdish language and literature teacher for children, a civil activist, and a member of the board of directors of the Nozhin Association since its founding in 2011. She holds a master’s degree in political geography and has been summoned, interrogated, and threatened multiple times by security institutions due to her activism.
The Nozhin Cultural-Social Association officially began its activities in 2011, having obtained official permission from the Kurdistan Governor's Office. The association focuses on teaching the Kurdish language and offers various classes at different levels, for both children and adults.
In addition to Sanandaj, the Nozhin Association has branches in other cities in Kurdistan province, including Saqqez, Baneh, Dehgolan, Kamyaran, and many villages in these cities, where it conducts educational classes. The association has also played a prominent role in providing aid to flood victims in the Lorestan province and has been very active in this regard.
Link to the original text in Farsi: https://www.radiozamaneh.com/519119/